Folding square



Dec. 19, 1967 w. R. JOHNSON 3,353,372

FLDING SQUARE Filed Feb. 2s, 1967 l i ze .V24 f z El 5 4 5 52 6 i I* l,36,

WMZ

47706445 visi.

United States Patent 3,358.372 FOLDING SQUARE William R. Johnson, 107Live Oak St., Planada, Calif. 95365 Filed Feb. 28, 1967, Ser. No.619,378 s Claims. (Cl. 33 102) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A carpenterssquare in which a scale member is slidably received in a pivot ring anda pair of opposed handle members are pivotally received on the pivotring and secured together by a central support block to permit the scalemember to fold substantially into and parallel with the handle and aresiliently biased ball for engaging in recesses in the pivot ring tofix the angular relationship between the pivot ring and the scale memberand means for fixing the ball in said recesses is disclosed.

Background of the invention Field of the invention-This inventionrelates to geometric measuring instruments and more particularly tocarpenters squares and the like.

Description of the prior art.-Angularly adjustable straight edge membersincluding handles upon squares are known in the prior art. Suchvangularly adjustable straight edge members, however, are generallydesigned to meet specific problems and for specific purposes and do nothave general utility. Furthermore, such devices as are known in theprioriart are generally either inaccurate and therefore have found onlylimited acceptance or are unduly complex and expensive and have notfound general acceptance in the trade. 'Ihe present invention relates toa carpenters square in which the handle may be rfolded into a positionsubstantially parallel with the scale member or accurately adjusted at adesired angular position. The present invention is a square of generalutility being both rugged and accurate.

Summary The principal object of this invention is in the provision of acompact rugged accurately adjustable handle and pivot ring assembly fora square. In its preferred form, the handle comprises a central blockfor the pair of opposed handlemembers each having a circular openingproximate one end for receiving a pivot ring, said handles being securedto the central support block.

Another important feature and object of the invention resides in themeans for selectively locking the angular position of the handle withrespect to the scale member.

The overall combination, constructional features, and design elementsalso constitute objects of the invention.

Brief description of the drawing FIGURE 1 is a top view of the square ofthis invention showing the scale member and the handle.

FIGURE 2 is a side view taken substantially at right angles with respectto the view of FIGURE 1 showing the square of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the square of FIGURE 2 taken at a pivotedangle of 90 with respect to the view thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of a square ltaken from the bottom of FIGURE2.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the handle construction in partial cut-awayof cross section showing the details of interior construction whichconstitute an important feature of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of the pivot ring of this invention.

Description of the preferred embodiment ments as hereinafter described.

The square also comprises a handle 20 which includes a central supportblock 22 and side members 24 and 26.

The side members 24 and 26 are pivotally secured about a pivot ring 28,which is shown in isometric view in FIG- URE 6, in a manner to bedescribed.

As best shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the pivot ring 28 comprises agenerally annular portion 30 which has, preferably, unitarily andintegrally formed therein a locking bolt support portion 32. A scaleslot 34 for receiving the scale member 10 is provided in one side of thepivot ring 28. A locking bolt groove 36 is formed in one side of thescale slot and extends in the form of a locking bolt passage 38, as bestshown in FIGURE 5. The scale slot, locking bolt groove and locking boltpassage may be of a design conventionally used in hand squares with aslidable scale member.

To provide a pivoting arrangement between the handle and the pivot ring,and consequently between the handle and the scale member, the annularportion 30 is provided with a pair of oppositely extending annular lips40 which intersect with the annular portion 30 to form a shoulder 42.The outer perimeter of the annular portion 30 is also provided with aplurality of ball receiving recesses 44, shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

A locking bolt 46 which is threaded at one end to receive a thumbscrewnut 48 and provided with a locking extension 50 and a locking boss 52 isreceived in passage 38 in locking bolt support 32 in a conventionalmanner. Thus, the scale` member 10 can be fixed in position relative tothe pivot ring 28 or it may be released -for slidable movement relativethereto.

Each of the handle portions 24 and 26 are provided with arcuate endportions S4 and 56, as best shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 5. In the arcuateend portion of each of the handle members 24 and 26 there is provided acircular opening 58 and 60 in the respective handle members. The twohandle members 24 and 26 are secured together by means of screws 62 and64 which may threadably be received in central support block 22, as bestshown in `FIGURES 2 and 5.

y. V.spaced apart relation. The spaced apart relation provides ltheslots 66 and 68 which permit the scale member 10 to be pivoted relativeto the handle and to be received either in slot 66 or slot 68 in asubstantially parallel relation with respect to the handle.

An important feature resides in the construction of the central supportblock and the means included therein for Patented Dec. 19, 1967 4 fixingthe angular relationship of the handle relative to the of ball receivingrecesses in the exterior perimeter pivot ring and consequently relativeto the scale member thereof; llAcco'rdingly, the central support blockis provided a ball received in said ball guide passage for :being with aball guide passage 70 and a plunger rod guide received in selectedrecesses to x the angular relapassage 72 which, in the preferredembodiment, is rela- 5 tionship of the handle relative to the scalemember; tively smaller than the ball guide passage 70. An enlarged acompression spring urging the ball into contact with spring opening mayalso be provided which intersects with the pivot ring; and the plungerrod guide passage to form a shoulder shown at a ball guide memberslidably received in said ball guide 76. A set screw passage comprisesan extension of the passage to permit rolling contact of said ballbetween plunger rod guide passage and is threaded to threadably saidball guide member and the perimeter of the pivot receive a set screw 80.A ball 82 is received in the ball ring, said compression spring urgingthe slidable ball guide passage and a slidable ball guide member y84 isguide member toward said pivot rings. also received in the ball guidepassage, Spring 86, which 2. The inventiOD Of Claim 1 Whelein theCentral Supisja compression spring, resiliently biases the ball guideport block has a plunger rod guide passage, and further and the balltoward the pivot ring, being engaged at its comprising: distal end byshoulder 76 and being received about plunger an elongate plunger rod,one end of said plunger rod rod 88 being secured to the ball guidemember and the As will be apparent from the description and thedrawother rend of the plunger rodv being slidably reing, as shown, theball guide 84 which is secured to one ceived in said plunger rod guidepassage, said comend of plunger rod 88 is free to move against the re-20 pression spring being received on said plunger rod, silient forceexerted by spring 86 to permit the ball to 3'. The invention of claim 2further comprising: move from the recesses 44 to another position and tobe a set screw threadably adjustably received in said receivedselectively in the individual recesses 44 which, plunger rod guidepassage for selectively fixing the in a preferred embodiment, may beprovided at 90 position of said plunger rod to thereby rigidly ix withrespect to the scale member and at 45 relative there- 25 the ball in aball receiving recess in said pivot to. In additon, other Vconvenient ordesired angles such ring. as or 60 may also be used. Thus, when it isdesired 4. A folding square which comprises, in combination: to. changethe angular relationship between the handle and a straight edge scalemember of the type having a the scale members it is necessary only toexert suticient groove along at least one side; force to force the ballout of the recess and move theV 30 a generally annular pivot ring, saidring being provided handle so that the ball is received in the desiredrecess. with a slot for receiving the scale member; If, however, it isdesired to xedly secure the angular means connected to the pivot ringfor engaging the relationship between the handle and the scale member,scale member groove and movably securing the set screw 80 may be movedinwardly to engage the scale member to the pivot ring; i distal'end ofplunger 88 thereby ixing the ball 44 in 35 a handle pivotally receivingthe pivot ring for permitthe selected recess. In this condition, it isnot possible to ting angular adjustment between the handle and thechange the angular relationship without releasing set screw scalemember, said handle comprising, 80 again. a pair o f opposed handlemembers having a cir- As previously pointed out, the important featuresof cular opening therethrough adjacent one end',y the invention includethe relative mechanical simplicity 40 said circular openings receivingsaid pivot ring of the design which provides ample exibility for allpura central support block, and pose use. It will also be realized thatwhile the invention meansV securing said handle members on opposite hasbeen described with respect to a specific embodiment side of said blockin spaced apart relation for and has been abstracted and summarized inspecific permitting the scale member to be received in a terms to assistin the easy understanding of the inven- 4,) slot formed by said spacedapart handles, to tion that the abstract, summary and disclosure isintended permit said handle to be folded approximately as merelyexemplary and that the variations may be pal-311e] t0 said saleV member;made from the exact embodiment disclosed Without desaid pivot ringcomprising, parting from the spi-rit and scope of theY invention as agenerally annular portion, limited and defined in the following claims.a unitary integrally formed locking bolt guide: .1 daim; formedinteriorly of the annular portion, '1. A folding square which comprises,in combinasaid bolt guide having a bolt passage there tion: through,

a straight edge scale member of the type having a oppositely extendingannular lip portions exgroove along at least one side; 55 tending fromthe sides of the annular pora generally annular pivot ring, said ringbeing provided tion, and

with a slotfor receiving the Scale member; shoulder portions formed atthe intersection means COnnCed t0 the PiVOt ring fOr engaging the of thelip portions and the annular portion; Scale member groove and mOi/ablySecuring the said circular openings in the respective handle: Scalemember t0 the pivot Ting',v 60 members being received about said annularlip= a handle pivotally recewins the pivot rms for pernnty portions insliding Contact therewith and with! ting angular adjustment-between thehandle and the Said Shoulder Vpmions; Scale. member, SaidhdndldCOmPfSIlg, wherein said means for engaging the scale mema Pair OfOPPOScd handle members having a clrCnber groove comprises a locking boltreceived in lar opening therethrough adjacent one end, Said said lockingbolt passage; Circular Openings receiving Said PlVOt Img" said centralvsupport being provided with a ball a Central SUQPQF. block, and guidepassage and the pivot ring having a plu. means Secnnng the handlemembers 0n OPP-omni rality of ball receiving recesses in the exteriorsides of said block in spaced apart relation'for perimeter thereof;Permitting the Scale membnl' t0 be fedceved in" 70 a ball received insaid ball `guide passage for a Slot formed by said spaced apart handlest0 being received in. selected recesses to x the thereby Permit Saidhandle i0 be folded aPPI'OX- angular relationship of the handle relativeto mately parallel to the scale member; the scale member;

central support block being provided with a ball a compression springurging the ball into contact guide passage and the pivot ring having aplurality with lsaid pivot ring; and

a ball guide member slidably received in said ball guide passage topermit rolling contact of said ball between said ball guide member andthe perimeter of the pivot ring, said compression spring urging theslidable ball guide member towards the pivot ring.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the central support block has aplunger rod guide passage, and further comprising:

an elongate plunger rod, one end of said plunger rod being secured tothe ball guide member and the other end of the plunger rod beingslidably received in said plunger rod guide passage, said compressionspring being received on said plunger rod;

and further comprising:

a set screw threadably adj-ustably received in said plunger rod guidepassage for selectively fixing the position of said plunger rod tothereby rigidly X the ball in a ball receiving recess in said pivotring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Starrett 33-166 X Hill 33-106 DuMouchel 33-88 Demmer 33-94 Costas 33-89 Plumb 33--102 Hane 33-170 XWolfe 33-102 Pittenger 33-170 Noble 33-170 Connors et al 33-170 XGermany.

HARRY N. HAROIAN, Primary Examiner.

1. A FOLDING SQUARE WHICH COMPRISES, IN COMBINATION: A STRAIGHT EDGESCALE MEMBER OF THE TYPE HAVING A GROOVE ALONG AT LEAST ONE SIDE; AGENERALLY ANNULAR PIVOT RING, SAID RING BEING PROVIDED WITH A SLOT FORRECEIVING THE SCALE MEMBER; MEANS CONNECTED GROOVE AND MOVABLY SECURINGTHE SCALE MEMBER GROOVE AND MOVABLY SECURING THE SCALE MEMBER TO THEPIVOT RING; A HANDLE PIVOTALLY RECEIVING THE PIVOT RING FOR PERMITTINGANGULAR ADJUSTMENT BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND THE SCALE MEMBER, SAID HANDLECOMPRISING, A PAIR OF OPPOSED HANDLE MEMBERS HAVING A CIRCULAR OPENINGTHERETHROUGH ADJACENT ONE END, SAID CIRCULAR OPENINGS RECEIVING SAIDPIVOT RING, A CENTRAL SUPPORT BLOCK, AND MEANS SECURING THE HANDLEMEMBERS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BLOCK IN SPACED APART RELATION FORPERMITTING THE SCALE MEMBER TO BE RECEIVED IN A SLOT FORMED BY SAIDSPACE APART HANDLES TO THEREBY PERMIT SAID HANDLE TO BE FOLDEDAPPROXIMATELY PARALLEL TO THE SCALE MEMBER; SAID CENTRAL SUPPORT BLOCKBEING PROVIDED WITH A BALL GUIDE PASSAGE AND THE PIVOT RING HAVING APLURALITY OF BALL RECEIVING RECESSES IN THE EXTERIOR PERIMETER THEREOF;A BALL RECEIVED IN SAID BALL GUIDE PASSAGE FOR BEING RECEIVED INSELECTED RECESSES TO FIX THE ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP OF THE HANDLE RELATIVETO THE SCALE MEMBER; A COMPRESSION SPRING URGING THE BALL INTO CONTACTWITH THE PIVOT RING; AND A BALL GUIDE MEMBER SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN SAIDBALL GUIDE PASSAGE TO PERMIT ROLLING CONTACT OF SAID BALL BETWEEN SAIDBALL GUIDE MEMBER AND THE PERIMETER OF THE PIVOT RING, AND COMPRESSIONSPRING URGING THE SLIDABLE BALL GUIDE MEMBER TOWARD SAID PIVOT RINGS.